CASBAA cheers breakthrough piracy order

The Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of the Philippines has served its first ever temporary restraining order (TRO) against a pirate cable operator â€“ Turtle Cable, a company in Baao, Camarines Sur province â€“ for copyright infringement. This latest move by the IPO has been applauded by the international pay-TV industry.

The Cable & Satellite Broadcasting Association of Asia (CASBAA) welcomed the decision. “This is the first time we have brought a cable piracy case to the IPO, and we are pleased that the IPO administrative judge has recognized the validity of the TV industry's concerns about protecting our intellectual property,” said Simon Twiston Davies, Chief Executive Officer of CASBAA.

The order enjoins Turtle Cable from re-distributing international cable channels for which it does not have a distribution contract. It is the result of a series of complaints filed by CASBAA on behalf of the broadcasters who own their copyrighted programs. After preliminary hearings and arguments from both sides, the IPO issued the restraining order. Further arguments on the case will be heard in June and July before a final injunction will be considered.